Dashing Young Spaniard Adds to Drama of Ryder Cup Stage

How relieved did Tiger Woods appear as he walked off the 18th green at Medinah last Sunday as the PGA champion?

There’s nothing like a fearless, charismatic, 19-year-old superstar in the making to chill you to the bone. Hey, that’s just what Tiger was, isn’t it? But this time, it’s Sergio Garcia of Spain who is busy capturing everyone’s imagination, what with his eyes closed while swinging, running up the fairway, patting his heart, smiling at everyone, making impossible shots a reality.

Garcia might have finished second to Woods at the PGA, but he certainly gave the champion something to think about . . . not to mention U.S. Ryder Cup captain Ben Crenshaw.

“The rest of these players [are saying] ‘What in the world do I have to do to beat these guys?’ ” Crenshaw said, referring to Garcia and Woods. “There’s no doubt in my mind that we saw something in Sergio that is absolutely electrifying and captivating. I don’t know what adjectives to describe. He’s magic, he’s charismatic, he’s graceful.

“When you look at this finish and how it transpired, that’s the future of golf. And I think as far as drama, it’s in pretty safe hands.”

As for the chance of a Woods-Garcia repeat at the Ryder Cup, it’s possible. They could meet in the singles Sunday, but it would be by the luck of the draw. Both captains submit the names of their players, in order of play, with no knowledge of the other’s lineup. At least that’s the way it is supposed to work.

Crenshaw dearly wants to avoid the same mistake that caught Tom Kite in the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama in Spain, when the U.S. team had virtually no knowledge of the course. He has a charter jet set up to fly team members to Brookline, Mass., from Akron, Ohio, where the NEC Invitational is being played, for a practice session Aug. 30.

Neither Woods nor Mark O’Meara will be there because of previous commitments. Crenshaw said both players have told him they will play the Country Club on their own before the Ryder Cup on Sept. 24-26.

HELLO, SERGIO?

If he wanted to, Garcia could play the PGA Tour next year. He has won $580,650 in six tournaments, more than enough to finish in the top 125 on the money list.

And Garcia did not rule out playing the tour in 2000--a move that would rob the European PGA Tour of its brightest star only months after he turned pro.

“I’m not going to say anything before probably November or December,” Garcia said. “I want to enjoy what I have right now.”

PATE’S FATE

Steve Pate’s Ryder Cup experience is limited to the one match in 1991 because he was injured in a limousine accident on the way to the course and couldn’t play again. And he was seriously injured when his car collided with a truck in 1994.

Maybe he should consider alternate modes of transportation, such as buses or perhaps roller blades.

Said Pate: “My history with cars hasn’t been too good.”

DOES EXPERIENCE COUNT?

European team captain Mark James will announce his two at-large choices for the Ryder Cup on Sunday after the BMW International Open in Munich, Germany.

Jesper Parnevik of Sweden is a lock to be named, that is unless he plays his way onto the team. Parnevik is No. 10 in the standings, based on prize money.

What James will do with his second choice is not clear, but he probably will go with experience, which means either Bernhard Langer of Germany or Costantino Rocca of Italy.

Why? Simple. Six of the top 10 players in the latest standings have not played Ryder Cup: Paul Lawrie of Scotland, Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, Garcia, Jarmo Sandelin of Sweden, Jean Van de Velde of France and Robert Karlsson of Sweden.

You may notice that Nick Faldo isn’t getting much attention as a captain’s choice. James indicated that Faldo, who has been on every European team since 1977, simply hasn’t played well enough and that his time may have come and gone. Faldo was 41st at the PGA.

“The situation as Nick knows it [is] that to be considered for selection, you have to show some form,” James said. “There comes a time when everyone has to move over and if it’s that year, then so be it.”

TIGER UPDATE

For what it’s worth, Woods has won $7,952,648 since joining the PGA Tour three years ago, putting him 17th on the all-time list.

MORE TIGER

Seve Ballesteros was the youngest player to win his second major. Ballesteros won the 1980 Masters four days after he turned 23. Jack Nicklaus won his second, the 1963 Masters, when he was 23 years, 2 months, 17 days. Woods is next, his PGA title coming when he was 23 years 8 months 16 days.

THE BITTER END

Being the point man of the Ryder Cup compensation issue may have taken its toll on David Duval, who tied for 10th at the PGA, eight shots behind Woods.

Here’s what Duval said of the media coverage of the controversy: “The writers seem awful bitter.”

Note to Duval: If you think the writers were bitter, you need to check with a bunch of your peers, such as Brad Faxon, Tom Lehman, Arnold Palmer, et al, who were as outspoken in their opinions as you were in yours.

ROLL IN, ROLL OUT

It’s a dizzying world in the golf-equipment business, where some big news was made this week when Callaway Golf named Chuck Yash as president to succeed Ely Callaway when Callaway decides to call it quits.

Yash’s promotion was prompted when Taylor Made named Callaway’s Mark King as president the same day. You’ll have to forgive King if he doesn’t know where he works. He left Taylor Made a year and a half ago to become vice president of sales at Callaway in the new golf ball division.

And now he’s back. In the meantime, Golf World Business News reported that King had a non-compete clause in his deal with Callaway.

ARNIE IRONS

How to celebrate Arnold Palmer’s 70th birthday next month?

Well, the Arnold Palmer Golf Co. is introducing a limited edition of 1,000 sets of Palmer original irons. The irons are replicas of the style of equipment Palmer used in his heyday--two-iron through pitching wedge, forged-style polished steel cast heads and non-offset blades. Price tag: $1,299.99.

GET YOUR CALENDARS

There is no change in the order of the West Coast tournaments in the PGA Tour’s official schedule for 2000. Once again, the season begins in Hawaii with the Mercedes Championships, Jan. 6-9, and the Sony Open, Jan. 13-16.

The rest of the West Coast goes like this: Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Jan. 19-23; Phoenix Open, Jan. 27-30; AT&T; Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Feb. 3-6; Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, Feb. 10-13; Nissan Open at Riviera, Feb. 17-20; and the Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship at La Costa, Feb. 24-27.

THREE MAJORS AND A CORNFIELD

And while we’re on the subject, check out the sites of the four majors in 2000: Augusta National, naturally, for the Masters. Pebble Beach for the U.S. Open. St. Andrews for the British Open. Valhalla for the PGA Championship.

Valhalla? Yes, the PGA-owned course out there in the cornfields of suburban Louisville, Ky., does pale in comparison to the other three major sites. But because the PGA owns it, there is no rights fee to pay, so it’s a cash cow--and that’s important.

HE DELIVERED

The Senior PGA Tour always seems to come up with great characters--so here’s Alberto Giannone, a postman in Argentina for the last 16 years, who saved enough money to come to Florida and try to qualify for the senior tour last fall.

Giannone made it, tied for third, and had what was then the biggest payday of his life--$13,000. Last week at the Foremost Insurance Championship, he tied for eighth and won $26,400, raising his total for the year to $120,332.

MONEY-MAKING TENTS

The 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine in Chaska, Minn., is already making money. Some 20 of the 55 corporate “chalets” have been sold for $155,000 apiece and 10 of 35 smaller tents have been sold for $135,000 each. When they’re all sold--and they certainly will be--the PGA will see revenues of $13.25 million from corporate hospitality alone.